How BookBub and Cal.com compare
BookBub Author Websites is made for writers who would rather be writing. Import an ebook from Amazon or BookBub and its cover, description, and retailer links fill in, and each book gets its own page that you update in one place. Templates are designed around genres, the Author Bio, Blog, and Contact pages are ready on day one, and a built-in newsletter pulls your book details into every email. Pro adds series pages, a press kit and events, and reader magnets that trade a free download for a signup, and the Free plan has no time limit.
Cal.com is scheduling infrastructure you can own. Open source and self-hostable, with calendar sync across Google, Outlook, and iCloud, event types, round-robin and collective team booking, routing forms, workflows for reminders, payments at booking, and an API and embeds developers actually like. Individuals get a generous free plan.
Where they are different
BookBub
- BookBub's book pages send readers to Amazon, Apple Books, and other retailers, with no checkout on the site.
- BookBub's newsletter sends 1,000 emails a month on Free and 10,000 on Pro, from a no-reply address on your domain on Pro, and replies go to your personal email.
- BookBub's blog has an RSS feed but no comments, and its only automation is a welcome email.
- BookBub's Events page lists your appearances.
Cal.com
- Cal.com is a booking page and API.
- Cal.com confirms by email.
- Cal.com charges at booking.
Choose BookBub when your books sell through retailers, you want a polished author site in an afternoon, and a simple monthly newsletter is all the email you need.
Choose Cal.com when scheduling is the whole need, especially for teams or developers who want control.
Compare features
What's on BookBub and Cal.com
A check means that capability is available. BookBub and Cal.com are marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace siteBookBub: IncludedCal.com: Not included
- Custom domainBookBub: IncludedCal.com: Not included
Public content
- BlogBookBub: IncludedCal.com: Not included
Audience and email
- AudienceBookBub: IncludedCal.com: Included
- Marketing emailsBookBub: IncludedCal.com: Not included
Commerce
- Scheduling and bookingsLink to external scheduling available on Starter.BookBub: Not includedCal.com: Included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of BookBub or Cal.com, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but BookBub or Cal.com may add or remove features that are not shown here.
BookBub vs Cal.com pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
BookBub
Current plans and prices
See what BookBub charges on their pricing page.
Cal.com
Current plans and prices
See what Cal.com charges on their pricing page.
Cardel: An alternative to
BookBub and Cal.com
You don't pay until you publish.
Cardel provides a home for your craft. Share and sell your work, grow your audience, and bring your community together on a site of your own.
Common questions
Is Cardel an alternative to BookBub or Cal.com?
Cardel is a home for your craft: a site of your own with a blog, newsletter, shop, community, and one inbox. It can replace BookBub or Cal.com when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list on this page shows where BookBub and Cal.com are marked.
Can I use Cardel with BookBub or Cal.com?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep BookBub or Cal.com for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared with BookBub and Cal.com?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. BookBub and Cal.com set their own prices, so check their pricing pages on this page for current plans.
How do I switch from BookBub or Cal.com to Cardel?
Start with Build Your Site, set up your home, and bring your work over at your own pace. You do not have to move everything on day one.